Nepal Tourists Warned Over Cholera Outbreak

Nepal urges tourists to take precautions against cholera. 13 people died in an outbreak in the remote west of the country.

Nepal Tourists Warned Over Cholera Outbreak

Visitors were urged by GD Thakur, director of the Himalayan nation's epidemiology and disease control department, to drink boiled or mineral water and "pay attention to their personal care and hygiene".

"There have been 13 deaths in two months in Doti district in western Nepal but now the situation is under control," Thakur said.

"For the last 15 years there have always been a few cases of cholera in Nepal in the rainy season. Since mid-April we have detected 15 cholera cases in Kathmandu but there have been no deaths."

Nepal is nearing the height of its monsoon season, when diarrhoea-related illnesses normally spike because of contaminated water sources.

Cholera is caused by bacteria in water or food, which has usually been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.

If untreated it can kill within a day through dehydration, with the old and the young the most vulnerable.

Healthcare facilities in most of Nepal's western districts, including Doti, are primitive, with farm workers often living in dirty, cramped conditions without electricity or access to clean drinking water.

"Foreign visitors who plan to come to Nepal should not worry because the situation is completely under control. We request them to pay attention to their personal care and hygiene," Thakur said.

"We encourage them to drink either boiled water or mineral water and not to eat leftover food. The department is very vigilant and there is nothing to worry about."

Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished.Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Disclaimer - All information and content on this site are for information and educational purposes only. The information should not be used for either diagnosis or treatment or both for any health related problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for medical diagnosis and treatment.Full Disclaimer